Mbappe now has big chance to end PSG career on a high

Paris Saint-Germain star man Kylian Mbappe stands on the precipice of cementing his legacy at the French capital with a chance to lead Les Parisiens to the summit of European football by winning the elusive Champions League trophy. 

With his summer departure from the French capital imminent, the Frenchman has a massive opportunity to finish his PSG career on a high.

Mbappe’s Meteoric Rise in football

Mbappe burst onto the footballing scene as an exciting teenage talent making his debut for AS Monaco in the French Ligue 1 at just 16 years of age and swiftly capturing the imagination of fans around the world with his electrifying pace, impressive dribbling abilities and clinical finishing. 

Mbappe scored 25 goals and made 9 assists in 55 appearances for Monaco. However, his breakthrough season came in the 2016/17 season as his consistent brilliant performances played a key role in guiding the club to the Ligue 1 crown and the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. He recorded 24 goals and 8 assists in 41 appearances that season.

In the summer of 2017, Mbappe embarked on a new chapter in his career, joining Paris Saint-Germain in a big money transfer worth €180m which made him the most expensive teenager in world football and sent shockwaves across the footballing world. 

However, the Frenchman has since justified that hefty sum, elevating his all round game and amassing so many individual accolades while playing an integral part in PSG’s triumphs on the domestic front.

Mbappe’s brilliance on the pitch for Paris Saint-Germain in his first season earned him a place on the plane to Russia with the French National team for the 2018 World Cup. 

The 19-year old significantly bolstered his rapidly increasing reputation as the next major global sensation, becoming only the second teenager to ever score in a World Cup final with his fourth strike of the tournament. 

Mbappe was central to everything good that France did in attack throughout the tournament and was rewarded with the “Best Young Player” award.

Due to Mbappe’s consistency in terms of form and performance, the Frenchman has earned himself the respect of the entire footballing world and is now considered one of the best players in the world currently.

He has a portfolio of trophies to show for his efforts including 4 Ligue 1 titles (one with Monaco and three with PSG), 3 Coupe de France (with PSG), 2 Coupe de la Liga (with PSG), 2 Trophées des Champions (with PSG), and two titles with the French National Team (the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League).

Chasing Crucial European Glory

Mbappe has contributed massively to Les Parisiens’ dominance on the domestic scene but the Frenchman has been unable to help PSG reach the summit of European football despite their formidable resources and the number of star players who have adorned the club’s prestigious colours along with him.

Paris Saint-Germain came agonisingly close to winning the elusive trophy in the 2019/20 season when they faced Bayern Munich in the final but Les Parisiens let that opportunity slip as they failed to capitalise on any of their chances, eventually losing the match to a solitary strike from Kingsley Coman in the 59th minute.

Les Parisiens came close again the following season, going as far as the semifinals where they faced Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s men proved to be too much for the French champions as PSG lost in both legs of the tie, culminating in a 4-1 aggregate defeat to end their hope of achieving European glory that season.

Despite the presence of world-class players such as Thiago Silva, Marco Verrati, Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar Jnr, Angel Di Maria, David Luiz and Lionel Messi at one point in time or the other in their ranks, PSG still found themselves falling short on the grandest stage of European football.

PSG in the UCL this season

Paris Saint-Germain secured a spot in this season’s UEFA Champions League as Ligue 1 champions, landing in Group F alongside AC Milan, Newcastle United, and Borussia Dortmund.

PSG started their Champions League campaign with a strong 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund but faced a setback when Newcastle United beat them 4-1. They rebounded with a convincing 3-0 win over AC Milan.

However, their reverse fixtures didn’t go as smoothly. Paris Saint-Germain lost 2-1 to AC Milan, followed by two consecutive 1-1 draws with Newcastle United and Borussia Dortmund, leading to a second-place finish in the group behind BVB. Despite this, they advanced to the round of 16.

In the round of 16, PSG was drawn against Spain’s Real Sociedad. They won the first leg 2-0 with goals from Mbappe and Bradley Barcola. In the second leg, they secured a 2-1 victory, thanks to a brace from Mbappe, with Mikel Merino scoring a late goal for Sociedad.

PSG then faced Barcelona in the quarterfinals, where they lost a close 2-3 match at home. In the second leg, they turned the tables in Catalonia, defeating Barcelona 4-1, with Barcelona playing most of the game with ten men. This impressive victory sent the French giants through to the semifinals and PSG tickets are now in high demand for obvious reasons.

Can Mbappe and PSG finally get their hands on the elusive Champions League trophy?

The French champions face Borussia Dortmund in the semifinals, having already played against them earlier in the competition when both sides met in the group stage. 

PSG won 4 points against Dortmund in the group stage and will fancy their chances of getting the better of their German counterparts again.

Mbaope and PSG have been here before as already discussed above. The French side has what it takes to go all the way and Mbappe will be key to that. However, they are the only side in the final four without success in the competition yet and it could be their turn this year.

With this season set to be Mbappe’s final one at the French capital, the Frenchman will be looking to inspire his teammates to European glory and with neither Bayern nor Real Madrid in the best of shapes this season, maybe Les Parisiens can finally make history.